Women in many countries use cosmetic products that lighten their skin, in pursuit of
“fair-skinned beauty.” 1
Some of the products may be harmless, but others contain potentially
hazardous ingredients such as inorganic mercury compounds, hydroquinone, and steroids. These
products are often applied to large areas of the skin, left on the skin for hours at a time, and used
repeatedly for weeks, months or years. Mercury-containing skin lightening cosmetics pose
significant risks to users. Mercury absorbed through the skin
from lightening products can damage the skin itself, the kidneys,
and the nervous system. Governments urgently need to restrict the
production, sale and distribution of the products and educate
consumers about the hazards they pose